San Francisco, CA – Following a crisp and bright Christmas Day, the Bay Area is experiencing the return of rain: Prepare for 1 to 2 inches of rain from Thursday through Sunday, accompanied by increased high surf along the coast.
Overnight, the initial wave of rain started to hit various areas of the Bay, but the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office indicated that the heavier downpours are expected to intensify by Thursday evening. Significant rainfall is forecasted to occur from 8 p.m. Thursday through 4 a.m. Friday, with many areas expecting up to an inch of precipitation.
“Moderate wind gusts will also accompany this next system, and there may be minor tree damage,” the weather service said. “As such, localized power outages are possible, but we are not expecting widespread impacts.”
On Friday morning, expect wind gusts reaching up to 30 mph across San Francisco, the East Bay, the North Bay, the South Bay, and the Peninsula.
As Friday afternoon approaches, the gloomy weather is expected to clear up, so be sure to enjoy the sunny skies while they last. On Sunday, more rain is on the way, with an additional inch anticipated. By Sunday night, the weather service predicts San Francisco could receive as much as 1.5 inches of rain, while Concord may see around 1 inch.
Napa and Santa Rosa are expected to get up to 2 inches, and San Jose could also experience about 1 inch of rainfall. In the southern regions of the Central Coast, minimal rainfall is expected, with only around half an inch anticipated in Monterey and Hollister.
A high-surf advisory will be reinstated for the entire Bay Area coastline extending down to Big Sur, beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday and continuing until 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Forecasts indicate that waves reaching heights of 20 to 30 feet are expected, but the weather service noted that these waves possess “much less energy” compared to the massive waves observed on Monday, which caused significant damage to a large section of the Santa Cruz Pier and led to at least one fatality.
The weather service urges individuals to refrain from accessing piers and jetties, and advises inexperienced swimmers to steer clear of the ocean.
